Editing Failing Witch:Volume3 Episode3 (section)

===Part 9===

“President!!”

“President Ulrike!?”

Everyone else sprang into action.

The Maleficium forces glared at the irreverent witch who had launched a preemptive strike on Ulrike who they held a nearly religious faith in and rushed…toward the lake instead of the woman.

They had been ''drawn away'' by Ulrike.

Left alone, the bookseller placed her empty hand elegantly on her cheek.

(Phew. That’s phase 1 complete.)

“It would seem Yagoro’s gambles can pay off. Unlike Sorbeddy’s.”

Yes.

The first phase of Myousou Yagoro’s plan was to shift the battle away from the shopping district where Sabbath Party was located.

Any attempt to repel Maleficium’s army by force would lead to a hail of weapon’s fire that could get innocents hurt. But there was one loophole they could take advantage of.



''“We just have to get in a preemptive attack on their charismatic leader before they can get started. That will make her supporters freak out, don’tcha think? I bet they’ll all focus on protecting and assisting their all-important master over attacking some boring target. No matter what it takes.”



Meanwhile, the Maleficium club and committee heads were riding brooms and soaring toward the dark lake.

“Where is President Ulrike!?”

“Don’t lose sight of the dark lake below you! We can’t rely on the city lights here!!”

They knew the President wouldn’t drown and die right away after falling in the water, but none of the club or committee heads could have guessed what they found.

They saw land.

Even though the massive circular lake was a designated anti-air region that acted as a boundary to protect Maleficium.

“What is that?”

A small island less than 200m across had appeared on the lake surface.

It wasn’t found on any maps and the Maleficium students had never seen it before. After all, even the lakeside was considered a ''deadly zone'' where reality itself was easily distorted. Anything could happen on this meager chunk of land floating in the lake.

And they found her.

The witch unit made up of club and committee members flew directly above the small island before shifting into a large curve to circle the island.

“President!!”

“President Ulrike would never be defeated by an ugly surprise attack like that.”

She wasn’t physically harmed.

But her pride was badly wounded. Worse than ever before.

Really, the biggest concern here was that the President might blow up Temple School City in a fit of rage.

The Earth Master leader tore through the night sky, controlling her broom with countless strings, and called out to another nearby flight group.

“Witch Doctors! Prepare a tranquilizer – one powerful enough to keep the President asleep – before we collect her. Use henbane or scopolia if you have to – just get it in her before she notices what we’re up to!!”

“Ugh, why do we have to get stuck with this job!? U-um, you actually expect us to trick President Ulrike of all people!?”

“Just do it! Now isn’t the time to worry about toxicity. Her willpower isn’t so weak that a simple drug will put her to sleep, but it should dull her mind some. If you don’t do it, at least half of the city will be destroyed!!”

The witches held this discussion up in the sky.

But they were mistaken about one thing.

Their enemy here was not President Ulrike.

“?”

They heard a sound like cracks running through thin glass.

One of the witches muttered to herself while watching white frost cover her hands and broom handle.

“Diamond…dust?”

Every Maleficium student knew that no unauthorized person could approach the enormous school at the center of the vast lake. It was all wrapped in a veil of pure white diamond dust, hiding the school’s true form, and any witch who did carelessly approach would be coated in ice, broom and all, sending them plummeting down into the lake.

However…

“Wh-what is the diamond dust doing this far out? We’re well outside its active ra-”

“Ee hee hee☆ Really, you should be asking why you thought a toy like diamond dust could do anything against me.”

“!?”

“I am Ice Witch Sorbeddy Icing. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?☆ Now, eat this! Your own anti-air defenses will bring you down!!”

Could the Maleficium elites even hear that mocking laughter?

With a disturbing freezing sound, the witches instantly froze over like frost on trees, robbing them of their ability to fly. One by one, they dropped toward the lake below.

Sorbeddy was a special witch who was most powerful in one-against-many battles. Of course, she had created that specialization intentionally so she could earn the greatest score in a single battle and keep all the reward to herself.

Maleficium was guarded by the thick diamond dust and the vast lake, but Sorbeddy may have been able to single-handedly freeze the entire lake and walk across.

“Over here!”

The used bookseller arrived a bit later on her broom.

Sorbeddy waved back while hovering on her dragonfly-like broom.

“My, my. I see you got them good.”

“Sure did.”

“So even you can win a bet if Yagoro does the calculations. Unlike when you run the numbers yourself.”

“Maybe I should drag him along next time I hit the casino. With him on a rope leash.”

The bookseller’s teasing had sent this in an odd direction. The tutor was in trouble.

Attempting to fight Maleficium’s army in an ordinary fashion would only get you crushed by their superior numbers, but there was one trick they could use in Temple School City.

This was part of Yagoro’s plan:



''“If we can activate the anti-air system built by other Maleficium witches, we can bring down all those flying elites.”



“So we’ve finally got her where we want her.”

“But this is the Student Council President we’re talking about. We have essentially finished the warm-up exercise and the real fight is about to begin.”

The bookseller and Sorbeddy flew across the night sky along intertwining paths before landing on the small island. A normal witch would have needed 500m to land on, so landing on that island was exceptional in and of itself.

Something was squirming nearby.

Ulrike was already starting to get up on the 200m land.

Her long, long black hair defied gravity to float up around her head.

That was an ingredient for the most powerful curse.

“Did you…really think you had lured me into a trap, foolish Limit Breakers? It’s none of my concern if you decide to rush to your deaths after going to such great lengths to conquer your own lifespans. I will use everything: stabbing, cutting, sweeping, and slashing. I will show you just how deadly my rapier can be when combined with magic to fully control space both physically and geometrically!!”

That was no bluff.

It was simply the truth.

The President who reigned at the top of Maleficium likely could forcibly snatch victory away from two Limit Breakers.

However…

“My, my. Have you already forgotten, President Ulrike?”

“Forgotten what?”

“How you arrived on this small island in the first place.”

Like a skipping stone.

The memory brought a flash of fiery rage to the President’s mind, but then she realized this wasn’t just cheap provocation meant to reduce her effectiveness through anger. It was crucial information she needed to examine more closely.

With sufficient speed and the right angle, it was possible to send a human body skipping across the water.

“Tch!!”

She quickly turned around.

An impact struck her.

Had he used Cinderella, or the Three Little Pigs? Either way, Myousou Yagoro had run across the lake with his legs breaking the sound barrier and he launched a soaring kick right into Ulrike’s cheekbone.